[Le Chef]

The "SWMBO" and I are close to ordering an X3 35 and wanted to get a sense of when we needed to put in our order to get an early (September?) 2012 vehicle.

Also does anyone have any clues as to possible changes/additions to the spec and options for 2012 MY X3 35?

MTIA

[Mako]

Originally Posted by Le Chef

The "SWMBO" and I are close to ordering an X3 35 and wanted to get a sense of when we needed to put in our order to get an early (September?) 2012 vehicle.

Also does anyone have any clues as to possible changes/additions to the spec and options for 2012 MY X3 35?

MTIA

Patrick BMW told me July would probably be a good time to order if you want a 2012. I doubt there will be any changes, maybe some little thing will become standard but at the expense of a price increase, typical BMW stuff.

But there may be the new i4 turbo or 35D diesel offered this fall! but if you order in July we won't know about any new engines yet.

[Le Chef]

SWMBO has agreed that the 35 is the way to go after also driving the 28. So diesels and turbo fours are not on the shopping list unless they produce much better performance figures than the 35. Personally another 100hp would be nice...

[Beyu]

Originally Posted by Le Chef

SWMBO has agreed that the 35 is the way to go after also driving the 28. So diesels and turbo fours are not on the shopping list unless they produce much better performance figures than the 35. Personally another 100hp would be nice...

If you're not in dire need of a new car you could wait around a bit and see if BMW really comes out with a tri-turbo engine for the X3. I have a feeling that it'll be tri-scrolled versus 3 actual turbos but some people are estimating that it'll get around 400-430 hp.

Here's the link

http://x3.xbimmers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=535265

[Le Chef]

But I would be surprised if we see it for a while. The new M3 is almost 2 years away from launch and the midcycle refresh on the X3 as about the same length of time away and that would be a good point to introduce it.

By then Audi will likely have introduced the 3.0T engine in the Q5 and possibly an "S" version with 350hp. Porsche will be introducing the Cajun which will probably have the 3.0T with around 350hp with more to come for their "S" version.

[Beyu]

Yeah the Cajun looks quite promising and seems like it would be pretty competitively priced at around high $30k to low $40k. I sure hope Cajun is just a working name though, good god if it isn't.

[Mako]

Originally Posted by Le Chef

But I would be surprised if we see it for a while. The new M3 is almost 2 years away from launch and the midcycle refresh on the X3 as about the same length of time away and that would be a good point to introduce it.

By then Audi will likely have introduced the 3.0T engine in the Q5 and possibly an "S" version with 350hp. Porsche will be introducing the Cajun which will probably have the 3.0T with around 350hp with more to come for their "S" version.

M3 is about 4 years away. 2015 (every 7 years). X3M is 2 years or less away.

35D Diesel would have 299 horsepower and more torque than 35i and be a tad faster but a couple grand more. You also would get 20% better MPG.

[Le Chef]

35D would also be heavier, just where you don't need the weight. What chance BMW will announce the 35D as a 2012 MY?

[Mako]

Originally Posted by Le Chef

35D would also be heavier, just where you don't need the weight. What chance BMW will announce the 35D as a 2012 MY?

Yeah about 100-125 pounds more.

[Le Chef]

335i vs 335D and you can see what 200lbs or thereabouts does to performance. And it's sadly not in the diesel's favor. There's STILL no free lunch!

[mole7374]

Originally Posted by Le Chef

The "SWMBO" and I are close to ordering an X3 35 and wanted to get a sense of when we needed to put in our order to get an early (September?) 2012 vehicle.

Also does anyone have any clues as to possible changes/additions to the spec and options for 2012 MY X3 35?

MTIA

I have some friends at my local dealership and I also know some folks who work at corporate in woodcliff lake (I live like 10 mins from there). I was told that more than likely the 2012s would start rolling into dealerships around Q4 2011 (so october on....) and it would be HIGHLY unlikely that any major changes (ie a new engine) would become part of the new model. I think another user noted that maybe small changes with certain things becoming standard would probably be what BMW changes and that's consistent with what I was told too. Now obviously its ALL speculation b/c BMW does not want to canibalize 2011 sales with new data.....we'll see I guess... It does seem unlikely for such a radical update (ie new engine) to come only 1 year after the model was redone after 7 years of basically the same setup (83 model). My guess would be in the 2013 model year after the new 3 series gets released...seems logical that BMW may dump that I4 into the 3 series first to create some buzz....remember that no matter what, the 3-series is still and always will be BMWs flagship car and they sell more of that than anything else...so any big radical change like a new engine for the company I'm guessing they'd save for their flagship and not the X3 as the introduction point...just my 2 cents

[Le Chef]

I wasn't thinking big changes would be made, more additions and a tidying up of option packages. Three things that the Q5 offers for instance: sliding rear seat, laser guided cruise, ventilated seats. And why not carbon fiber trim for the M Sport?

[tank531]

Some BMW model year 2012 motors are already declared at
http://www.bmwusa.com/standard/content/owner/dgh.aspx
F25 not updated yet.

[mole7374]

Originally Posted by Le Chef

I wasn't thinking big changes would be made, more additions and a tidying up of option packages. Three things that the Q5 offers for instance: sliding rear seat, laser guided cruise, ventilated seats. And why not carbon fiber trim for the M Sport?

I like those options...I like them a lot!

Sliding rear seat seems like a reach but I'd love to have that....that would require some structural design changes and don't seem like it coudl happen so quickly...but who knows...would be awesome